A Simple Task

[STSF Shadow 0]

“A Simple Task”

 

The task seemed simple enough. Find an incompatible biological sign among a homogeneous group. Unlike the Agincourt, whose biological signs varied greatly because of diverse species, the Selshans seemed to prefer homogeneity, making the presence of an avian Umbara stick out like . . . well, an energy being among biologicals. It took Shadow all of two seconds to leave the ship, locate the missing member, and return, after which he announced to Lt Colonel Day, “I have found a different biological.” Considering his task complete, he slipped into the ether to rest.

 

Coming back?

 

The call from Lt Colonel Day gave Shadow pause. He had found the Umbara. Perhaps he had not been clear in his communication. Then, for a split second it occurred to him that the biologicals did not understand that his designation of seeker meant a bit more than looking for and finding. Not that he felt himself beneath any task. Indeed, the biologicals’ dependence on him for certain tasks filled a deep-seated need to feel valuable.

 

“Can you point out which ship?” she asked when he reappeared.

 

He had found the Umbara general. It was on a ship. Many ships dotted the view screen, but to point out which ship contained the general? Finally Shadow managed, “I know where the biological is,” not knowing what else to say.

 

Can you get to it? Can you put a commbadge on it? Can you mark it somehow? Can TAC keep track of you? Can you set off fireworks on the ship somehow? Doesn’t Driscol have a way to track you? Wouldn’t Shadow be an energy anomaly that we could track? Could he leave a trail of breadcrumbs?

Fireworks? Breadcrumbs? Ideas flew across the bridge like quarks in a neutron. Shadow found it a bit overwhelming until Lt Colonel Day said,

 

“Shadow, could you cause an alteration in the energy of that ship? Something we could see?”

 

Had he finally found one who understood? An alteration of the energy, of course! But what kind of alteration, and how to accomplish an alteration that would communicate exactly what the biologicals required?

 

Then he remembered a sign on deck four just outside Cargo Bay 1, accompanied by the words You Are Here.

 

With instructions from Lt Colonel Day to go forth and have fun, Shadow shrugged, told her to watch the view screen, and melted into the ether.

 

“I'm afraid Shadow hasn't mastered jokes, sarcasm, and irony yet,” said Driscol. “We're working on it.”

 

But after a few minutes, Chief Security Officer JoNs at TAC announced, “Whoa! Okay...I have something rather noticeable...On screen.”

 

Colonel Harper’s jaw dropped as she turned to eye the screen. “Mr. Driscol? You were saying something about humor?” She pointed to a glowing arrow that had just come into view within the nebula. The arrow pointed to a Selshan ship. “I think he’s doing better in lessons than you thought.”